- Bees are one of the most important species.
In fact, the little flying insects are a keystone species,
one that other species in an ecosystem
largely depend on for their survival.
There are more than 20,000 different bee species
around the world.
In addition to being crucial for healthy ecosystems,
bees play a vital role in food production.
They pollinate a number of flowering plants,
allowing them to produce fruits and seeds.
- [Woman] These tiny creatures are critical for our survival
and our fragile environment.
- [Narrator] But bee populations are declining.
Habitat destruction, deforestation,
climate change, insecticides, and diseases
are all greatly impacting bee populations.
Do you want to save the bees?
There are a number of things you can do
to help dwindling bee populations thrive.
Here are seven things you can do to help protect bees.
Number one: don't use pesticides on your lawn.
Pesticides, including insecticides and fungicides
contain chemicals that are incredibly harmful
to bees and other pollinators.
Some of the toxic chemicals found in pesticides
have been suspected as links
to colony collapse disorder, or CCD.
This phenomenon occurs when honeybees abandon their hives
and die off at high rates.
- [Woman] First and foremost,
the collapse of bee colonies worldwide
corresponds to the widespread use
of neonicotinoids as pesticides.
Bees who come into contact with these pesticides
begin to exhibit symptoms similar to Alzheimer's.
- Colony collapse disorder is defined
by a rapid loss of worker bees within the colony,
apparently not related to the health of the queen,
because there's brood, there's food available
to raise those brood.
By the hour, it looks as if a bunch of bees
just flew off and forgot how to come home.
- [Narrator] The European Union recently banned
several neonic-based pesticides
linked to colony collapse disorder
in an effort the thwart the spread of CCD.
Instead of using toxic pesticides
to keep unwelcome critters out of your yard,
you can use bee-friendly natural alternatives.
Did you know there are plants
that are natural pest repellents?
Chrysanthemums can help repel a number of unwanted pests,
like spider mites, ticks, and cabbage worms.
Lavender is known to ward off mosquitoes, moths, flies,
and fleas, plus bees love lavender in bloom.
Lemongrass, another favorite of bees
due to its sweet, lemony fragrance, can also help
to repel pesky pests like flies and mosquitoes.
You can grow catnip in your garden
to keep ants, beetles, aphids, and cockroaches at bay.
Just keep in mind it may attract your neighborhood cats.
If you're insistent on using a pesticide,
then opt for ones that are less toxic
and rapidly degradable,
such as Wondercide Outdoor Pest Control,
a plant-based pest repellent that's safe
for beneficial bugs like bees and butterflies.
Unlike other pesticides, they take only a few hours
to degrade, instead of days or weeks.
You can also restrict your pesticide usage to evening hours.
Honeybees typically forage throughout the day,
so by using only rapidly-degradable, non-toxic pesticides
at night, you can help minimize bee mortality rates.
Number two: avoid meat and dairy products.
Climate change isn't just impacting humans;
it's also affecting the bees.
In addition to melting polar icecaps,
global temperature increases
are causing shifts in the seasons.
- [Woman] Climate change is affecting pollination
by disrupting the synchronized timing of flower blooming
and the timing at which bees pollinate.
- [Narrator] Studies have linked the production
of meat and dairy to climate change,
as well as some of the planet's
other pressing environmental problems,
like pollution and habitat destruction,
all of which can impact bee populations.
The 2019 report prepared by more than 100 scientists
for the UN's intergovernmental panel on climate change
revealed high levels of meat and dairy consumption
is fueling global warming.
- We are currently working on an IPCC special report
on climate change on land,
which will include the idea of food systems as a whole,
including the question of dietary changes
on the demand side.
- [Narrator] While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
indicates animal agriculture is responsible
for almost 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions,
some experts believe this figure is significantly low.
Studies by the UN have shown animal agriculture
contributes to nearly a quarter or more
of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions.
One of the single biggest ways you can reduce your impact
on the environment and on bees
is by avoiding meat and dairy products.
Instead, opt for plant-based foods.
Number three: support bee sanctuaries.
In an effort to save the bees, actor Morgan Freeman
converted his 124-acre Mississippi ranch
into a bee sanctuary.
During a 2014 Tonight Show interview with Jimmy Fallon,
Freeman discussed his newfound hobby as a beekeeper.
- And what I've discovered is that I don't have to put on
a bee suit or anything to feed them.
- [Narrator] He also talked about
the need to protect wild bees.
He said, "There is a concerted effort
"for bringing bees back onto the planet.
"We do not realize that they are the foundation, I think,
"of the growth of the planet, the vegetation."
For those who want to help bees
but don't have land to start their own sanctuary,
you can always donate to, or volunteer at, one.
There are a number of bee sanctuaries around the country
that promote bee conservation.
The Honeybee Conservancy is one such organization
that has helped more than 10 million bees
since its inception in 2009.
- [Man] It's remarkable that,
when bees are added to gardens and to farms,
not only does the quality of fruits and vegetables increase,
but the yield increases by up to 71%.
- [Narrator] The Honeybee Conservancy creates sanctuaries
by placing honey and solitary bees in community gardens,
urban farms, and parkland areas across the U.S. and Canada.
- So, with hope and a vision,
I founded the Honeybee Conservancy.
Our Sponsor-a-Hive program places free hives and bees
in community gardens and urban farms
that provide healthy food to local residents.
Other organizations that are working to save bee populations
include the Planet Bee Foundation,
which works with younger generations by teaching them
about the environmental impact on honeybees.
- [Announcer] Planet Bee Foundation is on a mission
to educate, empower, and unite people from all walks of life
through the wonder of bees and their plight,
to protect and preserve our precious planet
and food supply for generations to come.
- [Narrator] Non-governmental environmental organization
Greenpeace's Save the Bees campaign
also works to protect bees and has advocated
for the prohibition of bee-killing pesticides.
Number four: keep your garden wild.
Although you may not have hundreds of acres
to build a bee sanctuary, you can still create
a safe, mini bee oasis in your own yard.
Bees rely on flowers, trees, and shrubs
for their only source of food: pollen and nectar.
Plant a wide variety of flowers and herbs
in your garden or yard to attract bees.
In the spring, you can plant calendula
and wild lilac flowers.
During the summer months, try echinacea and snap dragons.
And in the fall, fill your garden with bee favorites
like goldenrod, sedum, and asters.
Planting big patches of native plants
enables bees to pollinate more efficiently.
Studies also show mowing your lawn less frequently
also helps to improve bee habitats.
By mowing your yard infrequently,
lawn flowers like clover and dandelions
have a chance to grow,
providing more nourishment for the flying foragers.
Number five: install bee baths in your yard.
Just like humans, bees need water in order to survive.
By erecting a simple water feeder or bath in your yard,
you can ensure bees have a safe place to settle down
and get hydrated when they're feeling thirsty.
You can purchase a bee bath
or make a DIY version yourself at home.
Simply fill a shallow container, dish, or bowl
with rocks or pebbles, and fill it up with water,
then place the container in the shade,
near pollen-rich plants,
so that bees have an adequate source of fresh water
while they're busy at work pollinating.
Number six: build bee hotels.
- [Woman] We recommend selecting nesting tubes
or blocks that can be opened.
Harvesting, cleaning, and storing your cocoons
at the end of the season is the best way to ensure
bee health and populations for the next year.
- [Narrator] Even bees need a vacation.
In addition to creating a mini bee sanctuary
or installing bird baths in your yard,
you can also erect a bee hotel.
Similar to bird houses, the hotels provide bees
a safe habitat to nest in.
- [Woman] We recommend hanging your nest
under the eaves of your house.
If this is not an option, choose a house design
that provides adequate shelter from the elements on its own.
- [Man] It's recommended that you place your bee barn
five to several feet off the ground.
And you want to face it where it's facing the sunrise.
That's east right there.
- [Narrator] According to the Honeybee Conservancy,
approximately 70% of all bee species nest underground.
The remaining 30% nest in holes or cavities in wood
or hollow, broken stems.
Wild hole-nesting bees also nest in dead trees,
overgrown grass, or fallen logs.
You can easily build a suitable nesting site for bees,
or you can purchase a pre-built one.
Just be sure when you install it
that it's secured to a flat surface
and protected against strong winds.
Number seven: transform your roof into a bee stop.
Last year, the Dutch city of Utrecht gave more than 30
of the city's bus stops a bee-friendly makeover.
The city built green roof atop the bus stops
in order to give bees and other pollinators
a safe place to forage.
The bee stops feature grass and sedum,
plants with small yellow flowers,
which municipal workers help to maintain
to encourage pollination.
In addition to supporting biodiversity,
the bee stops help to store rainwater,
capture fine particles of air pollution
and provide cooling during the summer months.
Following the success of the bee stops,
the city is set to transform
every room in the city district.
Roofs will either feature plants and moss,
similar to the bee stops, or solar panels.
- [Announcer] The municipality of Utrecht
encourages the construction of green roofs.
Utrecht citizens can apply for subsidies
to cover their roofs with greenery.
- [Narrator] You can help make your home more bee-friendly
by installing a bee stop of your own.
Transform your own roof to provide the little insects
a safe space to forage.
So, are you ready to save the bees?
Which of these bee-friendly tips will you try?
Let us know in the comments below.
As always, remember to subscribe
and hit the notification bell.
New videos every Tuesday and Friday.